NHL

Blue Jackets-Coyotes Preview

It appears that the Columbus Blue Jackets will ring in the new
year with their prized offseason acquisition finally on the
ice.

There's a good chance Nathan Horton will make his Blue Jackets
debut in Thursday night's road matchup with the Phoenix
Coyotes.

Columbus (17-19-4) made a huge offseason splash when it lured
Horton to Ohio's capital city with a seven-year deal worth $37.1
million. Horton spent his previous three seasons with Boston,
helping the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup and increasing his
market value by amassing 19 points in the last postseason as Boston
nearly captured another.

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen called Horton the "No. 1 guy on
our list." The franchise went all out to gain his services, with
director of hockey operations John Davidson treating Horton and his
family to a picturesque day at the Columbus Zoo that helped seal
the deal.

Horton missed the 2013 part of this season after shoulder
surgery. Coach Todd Richards said he will determine whether Horton
will play at Thursday's morning skate.

While it figures to be a memorable night for Horton, the
Coyotes' Keith Yandle is dealing with some disappointment after he
was left off the United States Olympic hockey roster on
Wednesday.

Yandle has 27 points to rank in the top 10 among NHL defensemen
and capped a three-point night with his second goal Tuesday in
overtime in a 4-3 win over Edmonton. Coach Dave Tippett felt his
player deserved to make the team.

"I see him day in and day out and he's been one of our top
players," Tippett said.

Tippett will likely turn back to Mike Smith, whom he pulled in
the second period in favor of Thomas Greiss as Phoenix rallied from
a 3-1 deficit. Smith has shutouts in two of his last four starts
against Columbus.

"We were just looking for a change in momentum," Tippett said.
"Greisser came in and stabilized things a little bit for us there
and our team found a way to hang around."

Phoenix (20-10-9), which remains without captain Shane Doan, has
played six straight overtime games.

The Coyotes went 2-0-1 against the Blue Jackets last season, and
former Columbus first-round pick Rostislav Klesla could return
after missing three games with an illness.

The Blue Jackets have allowed six power-play goals over
consecutive defeats, and Colorado went 3 for 3 with the man
advantage in Tuesday's 5-3 loss that opened this four-game
trip.

"Our penalty kill has to step up here," center Mark Letestu
said. "That's two games we have been burned pretty good there. As a
group, we have to look in the mirror and be better."

Columbus is also mired in a 0-for-16 drought on the power play
that has its coach grasping for answers.

"Teams might be gearing up on us too much as far as point
shots," Richards said. "And we might have to look at some
alternative things as far as alternative plays in terms of moving
the puck and where it needs to go."

The Blue Jackets expect defenseman Dalton Prout to return after
a six-game absence due to a shoulder sprain. Goaltender Sergei
Bobrovsky remains out with a groin injury, but could return
Saturday in St. Louis.

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